Episode 2

WITH THE FIRST EPISODE of Hitman, IO Interactive offered a glimpse of its new approach to the series. Although Agent 47 has been the longtime protagonist, it’s actually the wide-open stages that are the stars of the new game. That’s what happens when the developers concentrate on a sandbox style of play. The developers create a compelling playground and it’s up to the players to exploit that. For those happy with the approach, they’ll be happy to learn that the next episode plays similarly and also offer more depth.

I checked out episode 2 in early March and came away more optimistic with where the series was going. Episode 2 has a James Bond-ish feel as Agent 47 investigates Dr. Silvio Caruso and his associate Francesca De Santis in the fictional seaside town of Sapienza, Italy. The two are his targets, but he also has to uncover a secret lab somewhere on his well-guarded estate.Continue Reading →

Pros: The blend of adventure game with turn-based RPG style combat is still good, and the tweaks since Episode 1 are overwhelmingly steps in the right direction. Difficulty is still challenging without being artificially difficult, and it’s still hilarious in a crude, tactless sort of way.

Cons: The final boss battle crashed my Xbox three times, though I’m told it’s not a widespread issue and will be resolved fixed with an upcoming patch. It’s still somewhat short, though it’s longer than the first and cheaper. It’s also crude and tactless if that sort of thing is a con for you.

Verdict: All the good parts of Episode 1 remain and many of my problems have been fixed, meaning a higher grade.

If you liked PAAOtRSPoD:E1 you’ll probably love PAAOtRSPoD:E2, out today on Live Arcade and for the PC, Mac and Linux via Greenhouse. But I’m not going to make any guarantees until I review it, which should happen as soon as I 1) get my review copy and 2) stop playing Fallout 3.

And yes, I love that acronym.

My review of Episode 1 is here, though supposedly there have been some tweaks and changes for Episode 2 so don’t expect it to apply completely.